Adjustable sofa construction



ly 13, 19 8- L. POKORNY ETAL I ADJUSTABLE SOFA CONSTRUCTiQN Filed Jan.25, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS. LOUIS POKORNY LOUIS POKORNYPJR.

13, 1948- L. POKORNY EI'AL 2,445,241

I ADJUSTABLE' SOFA CONSTRUCTIQN Filed Jan. 25. 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTORJ. LOUIS POKORNY LOUIS POKORNY,JR.

L. POKORNY ETAL I ADJUSTABLE SOFA CONSTRUCTION v July 13, 1948.

. 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 25. 1947 mmvrons. LOUIS POKORNY LOUISPOKORNY JR' av ATTOQZE'X July 13, 1948.

L. POKORNY ETAL ADJUSTABLE SOFA CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan.25. 1947 mmvmm LOUIS PCKORNY LOUIS y Y POKORNY,JR.

Patented July 13, 1948 ADJUSTABLE SOFA CONSTRUCTION Louis Pokorny,Ronkonkoma, and Louis Pokorny,

Jr., Lake Ronkonkoma, N. Y.

Application January 25, 1947, Serial No. 724,276 5 Claims. (01. 5-13)This invention relates generally to articles of furniture, and hasparticular reference to an adjustable structure which in its closedposition forms a sofa or couch and which may be ad- ,iusted into an openposition in which it defines a full size bed.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a construction whichis more easily operated, both in opening it into the form of a bed andin closing it into the form of a sofa. A coordinate object is to providea device which requires a minimum number of relatively simpleadjustments to effect an automatic conversion from one state to theother. A more particular ob- Ject is to provide a structure which may beopened into a bed or closed into 'a sofa without the necessity forseparate manipulations of legs or other supporting parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a frame construction whoseseveral sections are articulated by pivotal Joints having no inherentlooseness, the improved construction being wholly devoid of slotted orsimilar lost-motion joints. An allied object is a frame constructionwhich will be unusually staunch and rigid in both the closed (sofa) andopen (bed) positions.

A still further object is to provide a construction of this generalcharacter, in which there is a single mattress fully folded and enclosedwithin the sofa when the device is in its closed position. The improvedstructure permit the employment of afull size innerspring mattress.

A still further object is to provide a device having these generaladvantages and in which a spring automatically comes into operation toassist in adjusting the device from one state to the other.

One way of achieving the foregoing objects, and such other objects asmay hereinafter appear or be pointed out, is shown in the preferredembodiment of our invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings,wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved structure in'closedposition to form a sofa as shown in dot-and-dash lines, parts beingomitted for the sake of clearness;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view through the device in closedposition;

Figure 3 is a similar sectional view showing the first stage of opening,with the lower horizontal section in raised position; v

Figure 3a is a fragmentary sectional view sho ing the lower horizontalsection in the oblique position which it assumes between the normalvposition f Figure 2 and the raised position of Figure 3;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view similar to Figures 2 and 3showing the second stage of opening, with the front vertical section andupper horizontal section to partly turned position;

Figure 5 is a similar transverse sectional view, broken off at the lowerhorizontal section, showing the sections in fully open position; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary top view of the device in open position,showing one side of the frame.

The device is shown in Figure 1 in its closed position forming a sofarepresented in dot-anddash lines and having a back 8, a left upright end8 and a right upright end I. when fully opened, as in Figure -5, thedevice forms a full length bed, the frame of which is made up of foursections, three of which, designated 40,

and 20, appear in Figure 5; the fourth section,

i0, is not shown in Figure5 but appears in Figure 4 and other figures.When the frame is in closed position, these four sections i0, 2', 30,

' assume dispositions different from their horizontel disposition whenopened out to form the bed, Figure 5. For facility in terminology, thefour sections will be given descriptive appellations based upon theirrespective dispositions in closed position, Figure 2. Thus, section l0,which is nearest the back 9 of the sofa and is vertical} Figure 2, willbe referred to as the "rear vertical section; section-20, which ishorizontal, Figure 2, and lower (compared with section 40, which is alsohorizontalhwill be referred to as the "lower horizontal section; thesection will be termed the upper horizontal section"; and section 30,which is vertical (like section l0), but which is at the front of thesofa, Figure 2, will be referred to as the front-vertical section."

The three sections 20, 30 and 40 are straightline members, while rearvertical section I0 is angular, having an integral arm It at rightangles to the main part. Rear vertical section II v is pivotaliyarticulated, at i6, Figure 2, to a short upright bar 6 which is secured,in any suitable manner, to the frame of the sofa. The lower end ofthevertical member In is articulated, at it, to the rear end of lowerhorizontal section 2!. The forward end of section 20 is articulated, at23, to the lower end 'of front vertical section ll,

the upper end of which is articulated, at 34. to

the front end of upper horizontal section ii.

The-parts Ill, 20, 30, 40 have been spoken of as "Sections rather thanmere members because each section It, 20, 30,10 has a companion part ormember at the respective right and left ends of the sofa, Figure l. Theparticular sections" i0, 20, 30, 40 of Figures 2 to 5 represent thecompanion parts at the right of the sofa, Figure 1, since these figures(2-5) represent views along a transverse plane looking towards the rightupright end 1 of the sofa. The corresponding parts of the section at theleft side of the sofa (left uprightend 8, Figure 1) bear correspondingreference characters except that these are primed. Preferably allsection parts, l0, i0, 20, 30, 40, 40, are fabricated of angle iron. Theangle irons are oriented so that one setof flanges, designated iOa, 20a,30a, llla liesin a vertical plane. The other fianges, designated Illb,20b, 20b, 40b, face inwardly, i. e., the flanges at one side of the sofaface toward those at the other side.

To recapitulate, and referring to Figure 1, the rear ver tical sectionis comprised of vertical angles III, III, having short horizontal armsl5, ll (these legs are bars, not angles); the distal ends of arms i5, I!are articulated, respectively, at it, it, to bars 5, 6', which aresecured at the right and left ends of the sofa. The left and right partsof the rear section are integrated by a longitudinal angle. iisecured atthe angular junctures of the respective parts i0, i0 and I5, II." Thelower horizontal section comprises angle members 20 and 20'; the frontvertical section comprises angle members 30 and 30'. Similarly, theupper horizontal section comprises angle members 40 and 4 0'. The distal(rearmost, Fig-v ure 2') ends of the upper horizontal section 40, 40'are integrated by a rod 4i.

The device includes also a pair of middle legs, one associated with theset of members ill, 20',

30', and the other associated with set of members In, 20, 30, 40; thelatter is the only one of the two legs to appear in Figure 2-5, and isdesignated 50. As best seen in Figure 2, middle leg 20 is a plate orcasting of somewhat irregular shape. If desired. a small roller orcaster (not shown) may be mounted at its lower end. Frontverticalsection 20 has a forwardly extending arm 32 whose end 35 isarticulated to the leg 50. In the closed position of the device, Figure2, the rear edge 53 of middle leg 50 abuts against the flange 20b of thefront vertical member 20, and is maintained thereagainst by a meanspresently to be described. A front board if extends longitudinally alongthe sofa, and is secured at its ends to the front edges of the middlelegs, as shown in Figure 2 with respect to leg 50. The front lower partof leg 50 preferably curves rearwardly as shown at 52, to save weightand to provide clearance for the front, longitudinal frame member I! ofthe sofa, upon which the front board if rests in tie closed condition ofthe device (see Figure The device is opened by lifting the front boardIi in any desired way, and pulling it upwardly and away from the sofa.To accomplish this, the board Il may be grasped directly, or, as ispreferred. it is pulled upwardly by means of a strap (not shown) whichis adapted to be normally hidden by the seat cushion of the finished andupholstered device, This causes a turning of rear section it about fixedpivot II, and brings about a raising of the lower horizontal section 2|!(and also the front vertical section 30, middle leg 50, and upperhorizontal section 40) from its lower position of Figure 2 (deviceclosed) to the upper horizontal position of Figure 3, which representsthe first stage of opening. Referring to the latter figure, it will beobserved that lower horizontal section 20 is pivotally supported by anelevator arm 22 which is articulated to it at 2 I; elevator arm 22 isitself pivotally mounted at 25 to a fixed plate 5, which is secured, inany suitable manner, to the sofa, more particularly, to the upright sofaend I. In the closed position of the frame, as shown in Figure 2,elevator arm 22 is horizontal and aligned with the lower horizontalsection 20. When the frame is moved-by grasping or otherwise liftingfront board H, as described abovefrom its closed position, Figure 2. tothe first stage of opening, Figure 3, the rear vertical section III andthe elevator arm 22 turn on fixed pivots l6 and 25 respectively; moreparticularly, rear vertical section it turns about fixed pivot it fromits vertical orientation in Figure 2 to the horizontal orientation inFigure 3, while the lower horizontal section 20 moves along a curvedpath determined by the swing f the elevator arm 22 about fixed pivot 25from its horizontal disposition in Figure 2 to its inclined dispositionin Figure 3. The swing of elevator arm 22 is limited by a stop lug 4tongued out of plate 5, against which arm 22 abuts. During thismovement, lower horizontal section 20 is raised from its lower position,Figure 2, to its raised position in Figure 3, in which it is alignedwith section i0, which is now horizontal. It will be noted, see Figure2, that at the rear end of section 20, i. e., at the end articulated torear vertical section II. a small part 20:: is cutaway from the flange.20b. This is to provide clearance for the turning of the articulated endof section It, and to enable the end of flange lib to abut squarelyagainst the end of cut away flange 20b in the aligned position ofsections III and 20, Figure 3. The juncture of the two ends isdesignated 2:. and this serves as a positive stop, maintaining the twosections in precise alignment.

The opening of the frame from closed position, Figure 2, to the firststage of opening, Figure 3. is aided by a tensile spring 2 which isanchored at one end to an angle 3 secured to the plate I. The angle 3extends across the frame, see Figure 6, and is also secured to thecompanion plate I. The other end of spring 2 is connected to anextension 20 of elevator arm 22. When the sections it and 20 and theelevator arm 22 are in their "open position, Figure 3. the spring 2 isunder no. or little, tension; when the frame is moved back into thesofa. i. e.. to th closed position of Figure 2, the elevator arm 22turns in a counter-clockwise sense (see its intermediate position inFigure 3a) with the distal end of extension 26 moving away from springanchor 3, thus tensioning the spring. In the closed position of theparts, Figure 2, spring 2 is under greatest tension. In this way, thespring. by tending to turn elevator arm in a clockwise sense, aids inopening the device to first stage of opening, Figure 3. and also servesto cushion the fall of the frame during the closing operation.

It will be observed from Figure 2 that the angle 3, to which the tensilesprings 2 at each end of the sofa are secured, also serves to supportthe lower horizontal section 20 (and its companion 20', not shown) inthe closed condition of the frame.

As already mentioned, the device is opened to the first stage, Figure 3,by lifting front board 5|. It is further opened by then grasping the bedspring I, Figure 6, or the cross rod 4|, to turn front vertical section30 (together with the upper horizontal section II and associated parts),

about the pivotal connection 23 between sections 2! and Il, from thevertical position of 20, Figure 3. to its horizontal position, Figure 5,in alignment with the lower horizontal section 2|, It will be observedfrom Figure 3 that the front end of flange b at its articulation tofront vertical section ill is cut away at 20 so that the ends of flanges20b and 80b abut at 1!, Figure 5, to fur-. nish a positive stop with thetwo sections 2| and II in alignment.

The position of the middle leg 50 in the closed condition of the device,Figure 2, and in the first stage of opening, Figure 3 v(in both of'which positions it is parallel to the front vertical section should becompared with its position in the fully open condition of the device,Figure 5, in

to the section 30. In the ositions of Figures 2, 3, and 4, the front leg43 is aligned with the upper horizontal section 40. When section 40 isturned on its pivot 34 (from the position of Figure 4 to which themiddle leg 58 is perpendicular to front vertical section III, the leghaving been turned 90 about its pivotal connection 35 to section 30.This turning of leg 50 is automatically achieved by that of Figure 5),the front leg 43 is turned on its pivotal connection 42, by means of thelink. This turning of front leg 43 continues until it is perpendicularto section in the open bed .position of Figure 5.- a

In closing the device from the position of Figure 5 to that of Figure 1,these procedures are reversed. Section 40 is first folded upwardly onure 3 (during which the leg ill reaches a position 1 abutting' againstsection 30). z The section" (together with the already folded sections40 and means of three links 28, 48, 58 (see Figure 4), two

of which (28 and 48) constitute toggle links articulated together at 24.Toggle link 28, which will be referred to as the "rear toggle link,lspivotally connected at its other end to section 20, while the link 48,which will be referred to as the front" toggle link, is articulated tothe section 4|. The third link 58 is a tie link and is pivotallyconnected at 5! to the rear toggle link 28, with its other end pivotallyconnected at 59 to leg 50.

In the closed condition, Figure 2, and also in the first stage ofopening, Figure3, the rear toggle link 28 is inclined rearwardly,pulling tie-link 58 in that directionand maintaining leg in a positionin which its edge 53 abuts against front vertical section 30. When frontvertical section 3! together with upper horizontal section 40 is turnedon pivot 23, the rear toggle link 20 turns in a.cl0ckwise sense, aboutits pivot 29, to the intermediate position, shown in Figure 4. Thismoves the leg 50 (counter-clockwise on its pivot 35) away from section30; The clockwise turning of toggle link 28 and the counter-clockwisetuming of leg 50 continue to the open condition of Figure 5. In thisposition, the toggle assembly 28-48 is almost straightened out (from itsknee position of Figures 2, 3), and the leg 50 is perpendicular tosection 30, ready to serve as a leg' to support the opened framesections.

It will be observed, by comparing the positions of the leg 50 in Figures3 and 4, that during the opening procedure the lower end of the legturns inwardly, relative to a vertical plane, 1. e., away from the shinsof the person opening the device. This is a noteworthy feature sincemany devices heretofore made have the objectionable feature of anoutwardly moving leg part which strikes the shins of the unwary.

After or during the step of turning section 30 to horizontal position,Figure 4, the upper horilies the horizontal flange 40b of section 40.Link- 48 is designed so that its .bend 41 is abutted by flange 40b andthus serves to support upper horizontal section 40. That is to say,anydownward force-such as the weight of a person sitting upon the sofa-willtend to turn link 28 counterclockwise on its pivot 29; thwarted by tielink '58 which, as already described, connects link 28 and leg 50, withthe result that leg 50 is pulled more firmly into abutzontal section 40is also turned on its pivotal connection to section 30, to itshorizontal position ment with vertical section 30 and thereby serves asa further stop.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a full size inner-springmattress I8 is disposed along the sections 48, 30, 20 and Ill, and restson the bed spring i, Figure 6. The latter extends between the left andright sections, being secured thereto by any suitable means. To furnishsufficient support for'the weight 'of bodies on the mattress, spacedcross angles i1, Figure 5, may be arranged betweenrthe left and rightsets of sections (two'are shown in Figure 6); in addition, there is alsoavailable for this purpose the cross angle ll carried by the companionparts of section l0, and rod 4| at the rear end of upper horizontalsection 40. When the sections are folded, in the. manner described, themattress i8 folds with the sections so that in the closed position ofthesofa, Figure 1, the mattress i8 is folded within the sections asclearly shown in broken lines in Figure 1.

In general, it will be understood that .those skilled in the-art mayreadily make changes in the t details herein described-and illustratedwithout as shown in Figure 5. In this position it is aligned 7 connectedat 45 to the front end, of a link 48, the

companion members at eachside thereof con-' stituting sections, saidsections including in the folded condition ofthe frame: a rearverticalother end of'which is pivotally connected at 36 II Secti havingat its u per end a perpendicular This is, however,

7 arm pivoted at its distal end to the sofa body, a lower horizontalsection articulated to the lower end of the first-named section, a frontvertical section articulated at its lower end to said lower horizontalsection, and an upper horizontal section articulated to the upper end ofsaid front vertical section; an elevator arm pivoted at a low point ofsaid sofa body and articulated to said lower horizontal section, saidelevator arm being aligned, in said folded condition of the frame, withsaid lower horizontal section; said rear vertical section and saidelevator arm being turnable about their respective pivots to bring therear vertical and lower horizontal sections into a raised, alignedhorizontal position; said front vertical section having aperpendicularly disposed lug, a middle leg pivoted at the distal end ofsaid lug; a rear toggle link pivoted to the lower horizontal section anda front toggle link pivoted to the upper horizontal section, said twolinks being articulated to form a toggle, a tie link connecting the reartoggle link and the middle leg, said middle leg being in said foldedcondition of the frame in parallel abutment with the front verticalsection; said section being turnable around its articulation to thelower horizontal section into horizontal alignment with the latter; afront leg pivoted to the upper horizontal section and having anextension. a link pivotally connecting the distal end of said extensionand said front vertical section, said front leg being in said foldedcondition of the frame aligned with said upper horizontal section; saidsection being turnable around its articulation to the front verticalsection into horizontal alignment with the latter; said front leg beingturnable by its connecting link into a position perpendicular to saidupper horizontal section; and said toggle links being adapted whenstraightened out to cause the tie link to turn the middle leg on itspivot to a position perpendicular to the front vertical section. I

2. A device for the type having a sofa body and a frame foldable forreception therein and unfoldable to form a bed, said frame comprisingcompanion members at each side thereof constituting sections, saidsections including in the folded condition of the frame: a rear verticalsection pivoted at its upper end to the sofa body, a lower horizontalsection articulated to the lower end of the first-named section, a frontvertical section articulated at its lower end to said lower horizontalsection, and an upper horizontal section l tlculfl t e pper end of saidfront vertical section; an elevator arm pivoted at a low point of saidsofa body and articulated to said lower horizontal section, saidelevator arm being aligned, in said foldedcondition of the frame. withsaid lower horizontal section; said rear vertical section and saidelevator arm being turnable about their respective pivots to bring therear vertical and lower horizontal sections into a raised, alignedhorizontal position; a middl leg Divotally mounted on the front verticalsection; a rear cause the tie link to turn the middle leg to a positionperpendicular to the front vertical section; a front leg pivoted to theupper horizontal section and having an extension, 5, link pivotallyconnecting the distal end of said extension and said front verticalsection, said front leg being in said folded condition of the framealigned with said upper horizontal section; said section being turnablearound its articulation to the front vertical section into horizontalalignment with the latter; said front leg being turnable by itsconnecting link into a position perpendicular to said upper horizontalsection.

3. A device of the type having a sofa body and a frame foldable forreception therein and unfoldable to form a bed, said frame comprisingcompanion members at each side thereof constituting sections; saidsections including in the folded condition of the frame: a rear verticalsection pivoted at its upper end to said sofa body, a lower horizontalsection articulated to the lower end of the first-named section, a frontvertical section articulated at its lower end to said lower horizontalsection, and an upper horizontal section articulated to the upper end ofsaid front vertical section; said front vertical section having aperpendicularly disposed lug, a middle leg pivoted at the distal end ofsaid lug; a rear toggle link pivoted to the lower horizontal section anda front toggle link pivoted to the upper horizontal section, said twolinks being articulated to form a toggle; a tie link connecting the reartoggle link and the middle leg, said middle leg being in said foldedcondition of the frame in parallel abutment with the front verticalsection; said section being turnable on its articulation to the lowerhorizontal section into horizontal alignment with the latter; saidtoggle links being adapted when straightened out to cause the tie linkto turn the middle leg on its pivot to a position perpendicular to thefront vertical section; said front vertical and upper horizontalsections being turnable on the articulation of the front verticalsection to the lower horizontal section to fold said sections forreception in the sofa body with the upper horizontal section presentedas a seat thereof; said toggle links being turnable by pressure on saidseat to toggle-closing position, thereby pulling said tie linkrearwardly to turn said middle leg into abutment with the front verticalsection to provide a support for the seat.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3, said upper horizontal sectionbeing formed of angle stock presenting a horizontal and a verticalflange, said front toggle link being articulated to the vertical flangeof the upper horizontal section and shaped to present a portion inabutment with its horizontal flange in the folded position of the frame.

5. A device of the type having a sofa body and a frame foldable forreception therein and unfoldable to form a bed, said frame comprisingcompanion members at each side thereof constituting sections, saidsections including in the folded condition of the frame: a rear verticalsection pivoted at its upper end to said sofa body. a lower horizontalsection articulated to the lower end of the first-named section, a frontvertical section articulated at its lower end to said lower horizontalsection, and an upper horizontal section articulated to the upper end ofsaid front vertical section; means for moving said rear vertical andlower horizontal sections to raised, aligned horizontal positions; saidfront 9 vertical section having a perpendicularly disposed lug, a middleleg pivoted at the distal end of said lug; a' rear toggle link pivotedto the lower horizontal section and a front toggle link pivoted to theupper horizontal section, said two links being articulated to form atoggle, a tie link connecting the rear toggle link and the middle leg,said middle leg being in said folded condition of the framein parallelabutment with the front vertical section; said front vertical sectionbeing tumable on its articulation to the lower horizontal section intohorizontal alignment therewith; said toggle links being adapted whenstraightened out to cause the tie link to turn the middle leg on itspivot to a position perpendicular to the front vertical section; a frontleg associated with said upper horizontal section; said upper horizontalsection beingturnable into alignment with said rear vertical, said lowerhorizontal, and said front vertical sections 10 when the latter are insaid aligned horizontal positions.

LOUIS POKORNY. LOUIS POKORNY, Jn.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are oi record in-the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

